The Nation - News from July 27, 1988

The Agriculture Department announced new rules for the use of pads and other devices used to make Tennessee walking horses maintain their distinctive prancing gait during shows and sales. The rules take effect next Monday. Officials said they are based on comments submitted jointly by the American Horse Council, which represents many major horse industry organizations, and the American Horse Protection Council, which earlier this year won a court suit over the size of pads used on the horses. The new rules would permit the use of pads that are no higher than 50% of the length of a horse’s natural foot. Larry Slagle of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service said the new rules include provisions to prevent harmful angulation of a horse’s foot.